GRIMALKIN THE CAT 181 
sprinkled with them. They buffeted one another 
until they were utterly exhausted, and then drew 
back to recover before renewing the attack. Grim- 
alkin strained every sinew to teach this upstart 
the respect due to his position and years, but try 
as he would not a blow went home. Feint, counter- 
feint, undercut and smashing downward stroke, 
all were parried, and Grimalkin sank down breathless 
after every round with blood trickling from his 
ears. A new sensation assailed him his limbs 
seemed numb and feeble. He was weary. It 
was not now revenge for which he sought he 
was struggling despairingly for the right to live. 
His blows grew more feeble, and foam hung on his 
jaws. Now was the time for the superiority of 
young blood to tell. Down came the iron paw, 
armed with the strong curved claws, upon the 
veteran's skull. Grimalkin yelled and leaped back 
as a hot red curtain fell before his sight. Baffled 
and half stunned, he crept away, cowed, into the 
bramble covert. 
The victor sat up and licked his wounds. Hence- 
forth there was a new king for the cat-folk in 
Knockdane. 
The day was well begun. Why did the throstle 
pipe overhead ? Why did the daffodils dance in 
